Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-03-31
LIFE IN NEW YORK.
Some Industrial Aspects-A Dressmakers'
Ball Described.

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, March THE other day l
wanted some sewing done. and determined to
try and find some nice, middle aged woman
a widow-who kept little thread and needle
store on Third avenue and took in sewing
when lived farther down town than now,
and who at that time did great deal OF the
plain sewing of my family. Mrs. b.
was a very small and very quiet woman, who
had been left widow with three children
and an aged mother to take care of under
circumstances that seemed as hopeless as they
well could be. But she acquired little money
from the fund of society of which her husband
was member, and with this she bought
small stock of thread and needles, tape,
ribbons and paid months rent In advance
for her little store and rooms. Her mother
took care Of the children and helped with the
work of the house. while Mrs. B. took charge
of the store and sewed, when not waiting
upon customers, from morning till night. The
children occasionally helped in the store out
Of school hours, but their mother was
ambitious for them, and the most indefatig-
able worker, for such little bit of a woman,
you ever saw.
Years went on; the children had grown
into young man and womanhood; the little
mother looked older and paler, but kept the
store and sewed as industriously as ever. All
the time that was not claimed by customers
was spent in making garments which were
displayed in the window and sold to the poor
women of the neighborhood, for themselves
and their children. She had also added to
her stock such materials as were used in
making undergarments, aprons, wrappers
and the like, and the quality was SO good
the price so moderate that many of her
patrons preferred to have her furnish the
goods as we'll as the workmanship, and thus
add small profit to her modest charges. Her
daughters had grown into very nice looking
girls. They were never seen upon the street,
but so rarely in the little shop that neighbors
began to make remarks and consider it "a
shame" with the sympathetic benevolence
that so many people exhibit in attending to
other peoples affairs.
But the little woman, who had never
changed the fashion of her plain black dress
and white apron, took no notice She had
determined that her daughters should go
through normal college, and they did, grad
uating with honor. She had determined that
her boy should 60 through the New York
college, and he did; but somewhat to her dis
appointment, decided to 60 into business in
SUtdQ VI llulSulIiS up pt SOluIuUld VI
as she had hoped About this time her
mother died, and left that part of town. /
heard nothing Of her for several years. ex-
eept that the store had been given up and the
young people had all obtained positions-the
boy as a clerk down town, the girls as teachers
in the preparatory department of the college.
When 1 rung the bell of the neat little
house. on a side street, the other day, where
had been told Mrs. B. lived, a clean but
diminutive German maid servant opened the
door, and in reply to my inquiry asked me to
walk into the parlor. 1t was a pretty room,
simply furnished, but with books and late
magazines upon the table l hardly liked to
state my errand to Mrs. B. when she en-
tered, though there was little difference in
her appearance. She still wore plain black
dress, but the apron had disappeared, and her
face was quite free from the restrained look
of care which formerly possessed it.
"No, do not take in any more sewing" she
said, in reply tony inquiry. "We managed to
purchase and pay for this little house before
gave up, assisted by small sum left me by
my mother The girls are both teaching, are
very much liked and the best daughters in
the world. Charlie has obtained a fine posi-
ton as trusted and confidential clerk in
large business house, and there is no longer
any necessity for my earnings by the needle"
She did not seem to realize any great change,
probably did not feel any. Doubtless she
still does the sewing for the household, makes
shirts for Charlie and helps the girls to
keep their wardrobes in good condition. But
the struggle is over; she conquered difficulties
with the most slender of weapons, the needle,
but with heroic patience and devotion, and
has her reward in the care, the security, the
filial love which renders her closing years the
brightest of her life.
There is dressmakers' union in New York
not fashionable dressmakers, not those who
live in fashionable side streets up town and
import costumes which cost several hundred
dollars, nor even those who live in the region
of Lexington avenue, keep house and main
tain more or less proud constituency, but
the hard working rank and file Of dress
makers, who earn living and ask no odds of
anybody. This "union" gave ball the other
evening, invited their friends, paid the ex-
penses and would have resented any imputa-
tion of not being perfectly competent to
do so.
The young women were as handsome, as
well dressed, as respectable and refined look
ing body Of young women as could be
brought together anywhere, and did not seem
w CoiioiuCl CuCblSClFCS III Cuo lcdAb
A little conversation with one or two Of them
revealed the fact that they considered them
selves better off than formerly, because in
in the receipt of better pay. A girl who can
"cut." and "Ht," and "drape" there are
plenty of so-called dressmakers who cannot
do either can command all the work she
wants, one assured the writer, at $3.50 per
day and her meals. Although, as they do
not beoin until 8 O'clock and leava Of fcavy
sometimes prefer not to wait for the late din
ner, but take the midday lunch and supper
after they reach home
Two young women who worked out at
dressmaking for a number of years in New
York, saved up money enough to set up for
themselves in Brooklyn. They opened little
store where they sold trimmings, and did a
general dressmaking business. They were not
very good dressmakers, for they lacked tbs
general culture and training which is of such
value in any special pursuit, and they had
picked up the business by working at low
wages in great dress and furnishing estab-
lishment. But they We're industrious and per-
severing, and so they got on They lifted
the mortgage on the frame house in which
they lived with their father and mother, and
they prospered until ne'er do we'll brother
came back destitute from the west, with his
wife and baby, and fastened himself and
his family upon them. They took
him into the store-they did not
know what else to do-and in six months he
had ruined their business, destroyed their
credit, distracted their funds and broken
their hearts. One died Of the shock of tt
the doctors said it was consumption; the
other is going out by the day again, deter.
mined If pOssible TO nav off the mortoaoo